Chapter 15

                                    

                                          
Loud shouting jolted her out of her pain induced slumber. Her eyes immediately opened and as soon as she recognised the voice she was out of bed and bolted for the door.
Entering the hallway her heart stopped and her breathe hitched, relief flooding through her. The two men had stopped arguing and both looked at her, stunned. She stumbled her way forward to where he was standing. 
She smiled and whispered, with her sore and hoarse voice, "Hey" before her world started spinning and she collapsed in his arms.
The next time she awoke, she glanced around the room and her eyes landed on a familiar figure sleeping in the chair beside her bed. She smiled softly when she saw their hands intertwined.
She tried to speak to wake him but no sound came out, her throat was unbelievably dry and sore. She tugged on Severus's hand and his eyes flew open in alarm. 
When his eyes met hers he relaxed slightly, face still set in a frown. "You should lay back down." He said while standing up to reajusted the pillows behind her, making it more comfortable to sit upright.
She opened her mouth, momentarily forgetting her voice was gone and tried to speak. She stopped mid way and gestured with her head towards a jar of water on her bedside table.
Moments later he was standing before her glass filled with water and a straw to help her drink. The water was cool, refreshing and alleviated the pain in her throat.
●PANIC ATTACK WARNING●
"Sweetheart, what happened?" He asked in a gentle tone, but the moment the words left his lips she was suddenly hyper aware of all her injuries and they seemed to have been lit on fire.
"He-" she tried, eyes filling with tears and a terrified scream ripping from her sore throat as she recalled previous events. Her breathing shortened and tears streamed down her face as she grabbed at her chest trying to get air to her lungs that were burning.
Severus immediately took her face in his hands sat down on the bed "My love, look at me," he pleaded.
"Its okay I'm here, look. Focus on me, breathe in and out. Slowly." He said desperately, while the girl in front of him stared at him, eyes unfocused and darting around the room as she sobbed. 
"Hey, it's okay I'm here, you're safe angel. I've got you." He said pulling her into a gentle hug, hands running up and down her back in a soothing manner.
When her breathing leveled out and she started sniffling, he pulled away and wiped her tears away. 
"H-he g-got me," she sniffled hand shaking as she sat there unable to move. He reached out and gently threaded their fingers together stroking over her thumb to calm her.
"Its okay, you dont have to tell me my love. You're safe, I'm here and I won't leave you." He said pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. 
●END OF PANIC ATTACK●
They sat like that for a few minutes, Severus rubbing gently over her knuckles as she calmed down. As soon as she stopped sniffling, he released her hand and stood up.
Panic overcame her and her hand grabbed onto his shirt "d-dont go," she begged "please." 
He looked at her, smiled gently and nodded. He was about to sit down "n-not there," she whispered eyes downcast.
"I-I'm scared, sleep with me" she asked eyes shining as she shifted to the side. Who was he to refuse her ?
After a bit of shifting she muttered a small "thank you" before falling asleep.